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Thursday, May 7, 2015

Vatican
City,7 May 2015 (VIS) – This morning Pope Francis received members
of the joint committee of the Conference of European Churches (CEC),
whose objective is facilitating ecumenism throughout the continent,
where many of the divisions and wars between Christians began. The
current situation is very different. Thanks to ecumenical dialogue,
ecclesiastic communities have taken great steps on the path to
reconciliation and peace, as demonstrated by the recent European
Ecumenical Assemblies and the Ecumenical Charter written in
Strasbourg, France in 2001. These are landmarks in the
collaboration between the CEC and the
Council of the Bishops' Conferences of Europe (CCEE) that give rise
to the hope of achieving full and visible union between believers in
Christ.

The
Holy Father, who noted that the ecumenical journey, even with all its
difficulties, is already an integral part of the process of
reconciliation and communion, recalled that the conciliar decree
Unitatis Redintegratio affirms that the division between Christians
“damages the holy cause of preaching the Gospel to every creature”.
“This is evident,” he stated, “when, for example, the European
Churches and ecclesiastic communities have different points of view
on important anthropological or ethical questions. Nevertheless, I
hope that opportunities for common reflection in light of Sacred
Scripture and shared tradition will not be lacking and that they will
be fruitful … and that we might find common answers to the
questions that contemporary society asks of Christians. The closer we
are to Christ, the closer we are united among ourselves.”

“Today
the European Churches and ecclesiastic communities face new and
decisive challenges, that can only be effectively answered by
speaking with one voice,” the Pope affirmed. “I am thinking, for
example, of the challenges of legislation that, in the name of a
misunderstood principle of tolerance wind up blocking citizens from
freely expressing and practicing their religious convictions
peacefully and legitimately. Moreover, faced with the attitude that
Europe seems to have toward the dramatic and often tragic emigration
of thousands of persons fleeing war, persecution, and misery, the
European Churches and ecclesiastic communities have the duty to
promote solidarity and hospitality. European Christians are called
upon to intercede with prayer and by actively working to bring
dialogue and peace to current conflicts.”

Vatican City, 7 May 2015 (VIS) – The
peaceful coexistence among believers of different religions, the
safeguarding of interreligious dialogue, the common commitment of
Christians and Muslims in defense of cultural heritage, promotion of
women, and the consolidation of the family were some of the topics
that Pope Francis addressed in the speech he delivered this morning
to the bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Mali, at the end of
their “ad Limina” visit. Following are extensive excerpts from
the address.

“I would like to direct your
attention toward the person of Christ in the delicate situation that
your country has faced in recent years, including security
challenges. At times, this situation has undermined the coexistence
between the various sectors of society as well as the harmony between
men and women of different religions present in the land of Mali,
which is rich with a glorious past, synonymous with admirable
traditions among which are tolerance and cohesion. I thank your
Episcopal Conference for knowing how to preserve the spirit of
interreligious dialogue in this delicate context. The common
commitment of Christians and Muslims to safeguard the Mali's cultural
treasures, especially the large libraries of Timbuktu, patrimony of
humanity, is an eloquent example. When you return, I want you to
express my nearness, not only to your faithful, but also to your
fellow citizens of all social classes and religions, men and women of
good will involved in the fight against intolerance and exclusion.”

“In this situation, the Christian
communities and their pastors are called to give an even greater
witness to their faith based on the unconditional acceptance of the
Gospel values. You are already following this path in translating the
Bible into local languages because, in order to live the Word of God
and to witness to it faithfully, we must first know it, diligently
study it, and assimilate it. In this sense, the efforts made in your
dioceses to develop new Catechesis manuals are to be welcomed. Thanks
to a solid formation, the lives of the faithful will be even more
rooted in faith and strengthened to withstand all threats.”

“Despite the serious problems facing
it, the Church in Mali shows a beautiful dynamic in its work of
evangelization, preserving a profound respect of conscience. Christ's
followers grow in number and fervor. But the Christian witness of the
family still needs greater coherence. In your cultural context, also
marked by divorce and polygamy, Catholics are called upon to
concretely proclaim, through their witness, to the Gospel, life, and
the family. I also encourage you to continue your pastoral work,
paying particular attention to the situation of women: promoting the
role of women in society and fighting against abuse and violence
toward women is also a way of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
who chose to be born of a woman, the Virgin Mary.”

“If in any particular church the
synergy inspired by charity is needed to ensure its credibility, then
your context of the charity and unity lived in the Church are among
the most important signs of fruitful dialogue with other religions,
an expression of authentic Christian witness... It is to be hoped
that even nowadays these witnesses of members of other religions
toward our Christian communities multiply.”

“Likewise, the Gospel lived in its
authentic dimension of charity should inspire social ministry. The
Church is present in Mali in the areas of education for peace and
your Christian communities actively contribute to promoting genuine
national reconciliation. In congratulating you for your pastoral
sensitivity in the field of promoting the human person without
consideration limited to ethnic or religious affiliation, I would
like to pay tribute to the many Christians who spread the culture of
solidarity and hospitality, especially in facing the violence of the
last years.”

“Dear Brothers in the Episcopate,
strengthened by the Lord's promise to be with his family until the
end of time, I am convinced that despite the difficulties on their
path, the Church in Mali will continue to be a testament to hope and
peace.”

Vatican City, 7 May 2015 (VIS) –
Seven thousand players, managers, members, and supporters of the
Sporting Association of Lazio (Societa Sportiva Lazio), one of the
Italian capital city's two football teams, were welcomed this
afternoon in the Paul VI Audience Hall to meet with the Pope. The
Association was created 15 years ago when a group of youths decided
to create a club open to the youth of the city that would perpetuate
the moral and ethical values of the sport. “At that time,” Pope
Francis said, “organized sports were a privilege of the rich. The
intention of the founding group was to make it accessible at all
levels and in all social categories. I encourage you, therefore, to
continue being welcoming, to continue to value various talents. May
your sporting association always be an open house where fraternity
and harmony without discrimination can be found.”

The club's motto is a phrase from the
Roman historian and politician Sallust: “Concordia parvae res
crescunt, discordia maximae dilabuntur” (small things thrive with
harmony; discord brings the greatest things to ruin). The Pope
asserted that the sporting association's long history has confirmed
that truth, enriched by different associated activities, structured
in various sporting sections, and united by the Olympic spirit and
mutual solidarity. “One of [your] merits is that of having worked
to bring equal status to all sports. In Italy, as in my country,
Argentina, too, there is the risk of speaking always about football
and neglecting other sports. Instead, every sports discipline has its
value, not only physical or social, but also moral since it offers
the possibility to people, especially to children and the young, to
develop balance, self-control, sacrifice, and loyalty towards others.
I want to emphasize this last one: loyalty. Loyalty towards others
because betrayal is increasing a bit everywhere...Loyalty! Sports
allows it to grow.”

“The Bible teaches us,” the Pope
concluded, “that the human person is a unity: spirit and body. I
therefore encourage you to always cultivate, together with sporting
activities … the religious and spiritual dimension. … We must not
neglect studies, friendship, or the service of the poor either. We
can't overlook these things to do just one thing. ...Thanks be to God
we have wonderful examples of men and women athletes, even great
champions, who never stopped living faithfully and serving others. In
fact, true sports allows us to build a more fraternal and supportive
world, helping overcome situations of injustice and of human and
social discomfort.”

-
appointed Msgr. Lucio Bonora, of the clergy of the Diocese of
Treviso, Italy, as a judge of the
Ecclesiastic Tribunal of Vatican City State. The Holy Father
has also appointed Fr. Paolo Scevola, of the clergy of the Diocese of
Vigevano, Italy, as an actuary notary of the same tribunal. Both will
continue in their roles as officials of the Secretary of State in the
General Affairs section.